Individuals

John Hosie was born in Alford, Aberdeenshire Scotland January 7th 1881. He immigrated to Canada in 1903 and settle in Glenboro, Manitoba. In 1904 he came west to Lumsden in search of a homestead which he found in the Silton District and this was his home till 1958. He found himself in the centre of many Scotsmen and he knew this was home. He returned to Scotland and came back home with a bride, Jean Clark in 1910.

His second love, the pipes and he played at all the local events and even formed a 3 man band with his brother Bob Hosie and a neighbour Jimmie Gill. His fame spread throughout the province and he entered many contests but more than that met many “pipers” and bagpipe “lovers”. John was a member of the Silton United Church and the Orangeman’s Lodge. He was also a Board member of the Thorncliffe School District.

He retired to Lumsden in 1958. Death of his wife, poor health and arthritis curbed his activities and he passed on January 5, 1966.

The memories and the friendship of his piper friends and loyal neighbors eased the pain of last few years but the pipes languished and deteriorated in their sturdy box. His son Lewis Hosie and his family were determined that this heritage must survive. Finally Iain MacDonald came to our rescue. He not only restored them but searched the history of them plus a recording of John’s later concerts and details of his many achievements. 1908 was etched on the pipes and Iain says it was likely one of the last set of pipes this company made before moving on to Australia. They are beautiful but very fragile, but Iain played for us and it brought the most beautiful memories back. Now we live in the hopes that a grandson or granddaughter will carry the “torch”.

In 1938, at age 16, Hugh joined the Saskatoon Light Infantry and during his training in Vernon, B.C. he met another champion piper, William Barrie who gave Hugh a set of pipes and continued with his lessons. Hugh went overseas in 1943 and transferred to the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Winnipeg. Upon his arrival home, Hugh re-joined the SLI Militia and was appointed Pipe Major serving in this position until 1980. Hugh received many medals and honors including the Military Medal of Merit (MMM) by Governor-General Jules Leger and was the first person in the SLI to receive the Canadian Decoration (CD). Hugh also had the honor of playing the Lament for the Right Honorable John G. Diefenbaker's funeral. In 1946 Hugh joined the Saskatoon Police Department and in just four years was promoted to Detective. Hugh rose quickly through the ranks and was promoted to Deputy Chief of Operations in 1974. During his police career he was awarded the Police Long Service Medal, the Bronze and Silver Bar and the Gold Bar for 35 years service. Hugh contributed greatly to the piping community in Saskatchewan, starting the Saskatoon Girls Pipe Band in 1956 and the Saskatoon Police Pipes and Drums in 1961. He also gave his time generously as an instructor for the 96th Highlanders. His countless hours of instruction and assistance to students and bands have ensure that a great many people in Saskatchewan enjoy playing the same music that Hugh loved so much.

Angus was born on June 14, 1922 in Falkirk, Scotland. Het met his wife Gladwen while they were serving in the Royal Air Force. Following their marriage in 1945, Angus served in India, and they emigrated to Canada in 1948 and settled in Regina, where Angus worked in radio repair at SaskTel.

Angus was a very good player of light music, and taught piping technique well. He himself played a fine-sounding set of Thow Bagpipes, which had also been his brothers. Those pipes are now being played by a young piper in Regina.

Angus was a fantastic guy: kind, warm-hearted, fun-loving, and passionate about the pipes and piping. He retired from bands locally and for a number of years lived in Kelowna, British Columbia, where he was a member of the Kelowna Legion Pipe Band. He returned to Regina in 2005, and died in February, 2010.

At the age of eleven I joined the St. Andrew's Society Boy's Pipe Band in Moose Jaw. Six months later I made my first public appearance -- before Princess Elizabeth. Enthusiasm and the fine instruction of Pipe Major Bob Shepherd and Jim Carnegie of Belbeck, formerly of the Edinburgh City Police, brought me three Saskatchewan Junior Piping Championships.

After High School I joined the Canadian Army as a piper destined for the Black Watch of Canada, but ended up an officer in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. I eventually settled on a teaching career in Calgary. There I served as Band Officer of the 19th Medium Regiment which eventually became the Clan MacBain Pipe Band with which I played several years. I spent part of a summer at the Invermark School of Piping in New York State learning the basics of piobaireachd and earning their highest certificate. In 1962 I was honoured to be chosen as Chief Instructor of the Prairie Command School of Piping and Drumming at Currie Barracks. In later years I conducted workshops and schools in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Montana.

In 1967 I returned to my hometown of Moose Jaw where I remained for the next quarter century as a high school teacher. There I served as Band Director/Pipe Major of the White Hackle. During that time the band won the Provincial Championship over a dozen times, were International Champions, runner-up for the Eastern Canadian Championship, Third in the North American Championships (all in our only visit to Ontario), won the 1986 Expo Championship in Vancouver, and took Sixth in the European Championships. These events were in Third and Fourth Grades.

The White Hackle was well received in the U.S.A., England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, including invitational performances at two World's Fairs, Disney World, and a Command Performance for the Governor General of Canada. At the same time the band was earning an international reputation for showmanship and Fancy Drill, having won numerous competitions against pipe bands and huge marching bands.

I was co-founder of the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts and The Prairie Pipe Band Association and served in a variety of roles and executive positions from the 1960‘s to the 1990‘s. I wrote several pamphlets and articles on piping as well as being Editor of "The Bandsman", the newsletter of the Prairie Pipe Band Association. However, I am most proud of having taught piping and even bass and tenor-drumming to hundreds of youths, many of whom have gone on to do the same for the succeeding generations.

Like many pipers, I am addicted to composing, having churned out countless tunes to amuse myself. The last time I spoke with the late Donald MacLeod MBE he told me he intended to bring out a seventh book of pipe music and wanted permission to include six of my compositions. Of course, I was delighted and agreed. Unfortunately, Donald passed away months later, and his seventh book was never published. I never thought to ask him which tunes he wanted to use. Nevertheless, he did include two of my efforts in previous publications, as well as a fine 2/4 march he composed for me and a lovely slow air for my eldest son, Lachlan.

For many years I have been an adjudicator of Piping and Ensemble and even Bass-Tenor competitions in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, and Washington State.

In 1993 I left Moose Jaw to begin a new career as a retiree in Cloverdale, B.C., where I continued piping with The Delta Police Pipe Band, The White Spot Pipe Band, the Langley Legion Pipe Band, and the Vancouver Police Pipe Band. In associated music fields I am the piper for Tartan Pride Highland Dance Team, and enjoy playing a few tunes with the popular Celtic band, Blackthorn. I served on the executive of the B.C. Pipers Association for a number of years..

The following is a list of the pipe bands with which I have been associated: • The St. Andrews Society Boys' Pipe Band (Moose Jaw: piper) • The Sprigs o' Heather Girls Pipe Band (Moose Jaw: Instructor of Piping, Tenor and Bass) • The Pipes and Drums of The North Saskatchewan Regiment (Saskatoon: piper and drummer) • The Pipes and Drums of The 19th Medium Regiment, RCA (Calgary: Band Officer) • The Calgary Boy Scout Pipe Band (Band Director) • The Innisfail Legion Pipe Band (Instructor) • The Clan MacBain Pipe Band (Calgary: piper) • The Calgary Scottish (piper) • The Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders (Pipe Major -- probably the shortest term ever) • The White Hackle (Moose Jaw: Band Director/Pipe Major) • The Clansmen Pipe Band (South Saskatchewan: Pipe Major) • The Pipes and Drums of The 10th Field Regiment, RCA (Regina: Band Officer) • The Delta Police Pipe Band (Staff-Sergeant Piper) • The White Spot Pipe Band (Band Director) • The Langley Legion Pipe Band (piper) • The Vancouver Police Pipe Band (Pipe Staff-Sergeant)

Andy McAnsh came to Canada with his family after World War II. He was an experienced piper, and once here he spent many years instructing young pipers in the 10th Signals Pipe Band, the Regina Boys & Girls Pipe Band, and the Springs of Heather Pipe Band. For many years, Andy was the administrator of the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts at Fort San, and he played a leading role in many activites related to pipe bands, including the Prairie Pipe Band Association.

Andy was shop teacher at Sheldon-Williams Collegiate in Regina, and he passed away suddenly in 1978. His bagpipe is on permanent loan to the Conservatory of Performing Arts in Regina.